Virginia Polytechnic Institute - Bugle Yearbook (Blacksburg, VA)

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' I V V 'II 3 ' ' ? Eff PROFESSOR CAMPBELL DR. WILLIAMS PROFESSOR DRINKARD fi-'ini' ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT CAROL MONTGOMERY NEWMAN, Dean of the Academic Department, Professor of English. . B. A. Kings College, 18975 M. A., University of Virginia, 19015 Ph. D., University of Virffinia 1903 THEODORICK PRYOR CAMPBELL Dean of the Faculty Pvofessor of Modern Languaqes and Lafm B A Hampden Sidney 1880 M A Hampden Sidney 1882 JOHN EDWARD WILLIAMS Pvofessor of Mathematzcs B A Hampden Sidney College 1892 M A University of Virginia 1901 Ph D University of Virginia 1899 ALFRED WASHINGTON DRINKARD Pvofessm of Economacs and Polmcal Sczeuce B S Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1893 M S Virginia Polytechnic Instltute 1895 CLARENCE PAUL MILES Associate Professm of lllodewt Languages B S Virginia Polytechnic Instltute 1901 M S Virginia Polytechnic Institute WILLIAM MAYO BRODIE Assoctate Professor of Mathematzcs B S V1rg1n1a Polytechnic Institute 1901 M E V11g1H13 Polytechnic Institute 1902 M A Columbia University 1914 JOHN JAMES DAVIS Assoczate Pvofessor of Modem, Languages B S Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1: 1 - , 1 1 . , . . ., - , . ., - , . - , I I - - Q, 3 1 ' '7 ' 2 ' 'Q a ' I I . A .J-. . A , . . . ., 9 r - -r y - , . - . . ., 1 1 ' -7 ' , ' . . ., 7 1 ' '1 7 7 ' -1 , . , ' . . .,

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t riggir- C W THE ' U ifaoetefir Q- Ari , ? THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HE present Academic Department, which embraces the sub-departments of Modern Languages and Latin, Mathematics, Eng- lish, and History and Economics, was established for rather, re-established, for an Academic Department is no new thing at Virginia Polytechnic Institutej by the Board of Visitors in July, 1915. In the following January, the new department made its first appearance in the college catalog, and the one course, General Science, offered in this department was duly outlined and tabulated. 'At the present time fDecember, 19165 there are seventeen students taking the General Science course, these being distributed as follows: Senior, one, Sophomores, five, Freshmen, ten, Special, one. DEAN NEWMAN That the course should? have made so prompt an appeal to the student-body is perhaps due to three things. In the first place, the General Science course is designed to meet the needs of those men who for various reasons wish to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute, but who do not care to pursue any of the purely technical courses offered, in other words, it is a general college course, with, however, as the name implies, special emphasis upon such fundamental sciences as mathematics, physics, chemistry, physiology, biology, and geology. Secondly, it is the most liberally elective course offered at the Institute, and, in a school where the various lines of study are so largely prescribed, this fact doubtless has its attractions. At the outset, the student may elect between Latin and one of the modern languages, and in the Junior and Senior years only about half of both classroom and laboratory work is definitely specified. Finally, the ,course contains a number of valuable subjects of instruction not included in other courses. Among these are Latin, astronomy, political science, logic, and psychology, and others will certainly be added if a demand for them develops. As the Academic Department grows older, and the General Science course becomes stronger and better known, the number of students taking this course will doubtless increase. For those who desire to prepare themselves to be teachers in the high schools of the State, and especially in the agricultural high schools, the course should have a particularly strong appeal. To the prospective lawyer, doctor, or minister it offers that general training which should precede the more highly specialized course of study. As preparation for a life of general business activity, it presents many attractive features. Certainly it would seem to meet a real need, by thus furnishing a liberal college education of scientific type as the broad foundation upon which a successful career of almost any kind may be permanently built. P L' ' 'J ' an ' f nv ... - - eg - 7, R ,, -,W P 28

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un uf' i P I 4 l i i P I 9 THE P , G E DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HE function of the agricultural college is not, as many have supposed, solely that of training farmersg but rather the develop- ment of men for rural leadership. Such leadership calls for men fitted with technical knowledge-for investigation, for teaching, and for various forms of extension service, as well as for that form of leadership which is the natural result of being both a good citizen and a successful farmer. The demand at present for properly trained and equipped men for the various phases of both public and private service in agriculture is far greater than the available supply of men. It is the function of the agricultural college-not only to train young DEAN PRICE , , men for these varlous forms of rural service, but to direct and co-ordinate their eiorts in such a manner that the Whole rural population will be brought in direct touch with the college and its teachings. The agricultural graduate should, therefore, have a broad and liberal training, in order that he may be able to grasp the many important economic and social problems that are pressing for solution. He should not only be able to ,recognize such problems, but he should' be qualified to take some part in their solution. The agricultural college has often been subjected to the criticism that it educates young men away from the farm 5 but such criticism has no force so long as the college graduate's opportunity for service is greater in the field of public agriculture than in that of private farming. Agriculture has been taught at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute since its foundation, in 18723 but a modern course in technical agriculture was not offered until after the reorganization of the agricultural department by President J. M. McBryde. The courses of study offered in the early days of the McBryde administration, by such men as Professors Alwood, Davidson, Niles, Smythe, and Nourse, furnished the nucleus for strong fundamental training in agriculture and horticulture. These men set a high standard in agricultural instruction and in agricultural service for those who have succeeded them. Fortunately for the students of this institution, those in authority have, from the date of the reorganization meitioned, insisted not only upon sound technical instruction, but have also demanded thoro and broad training 1' , ee .,, e. - . , - - 30 I Qii,ili.i'iEi if